At the invitation of President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China, Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni of the Italian Republic visited China from May 14 to 16, 2017, to attend the "Belt and Road" International Cooperation Summit Forum. During the visit, President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang separately met with Prime Minister Gentiloni.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the good development of the China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership and expressed their willingness to strengthen political dialogue on the basis of full respect for the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, contributing to world peace and security.
Both sides agreed to enhance coordination and cooperation on global and regional issues within the framework of the United Nations and the G20, support the construction of the four major partnerships between China and Europe in peace, growth, reform, and civilization, and implement the "China-EU 2020 Strategic Agenda."
Both sides appreciated the intensive and diverse bilateral political dialogue and exchanges and expressed their willingness to continue to promote mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in various fields.
Towards the "50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations"
In 2020, it will be the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Italy, as well as the concluding year of China's 13th Five-Year Plan. Both sides expressed their willingness to maintain the momentum of regular high-level visits and jointly plan for the process of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2020.
To achieve the above goals, both sides actively supported the Action Plan for Strengthening Cooperation between China and Italy (2017-2020). The China-Italy Government Committee, co-chaired by the foreign ministers of both countries, is responsible for promoting and implementing this plan.
Both sides emphasized the significance of the China-Italy Entrepreneur Committee in enhancing contacts between businesses of the two countries and promoting investment and trade. The "China-Italy Innovation Cooperation Week" played an important role in strengthening relationships between universities, research institutions, and innovative enterprises of both sides, and the China-Italy cultural cooperation mechanism provided an important platform for cultural and creative industry cooperation between the two countries.
Strong Economic and Trade Partnership
Both sides unanimously recognized the importance of close trade ties and agreed to tap into the bilateral trade potential and continue to expand the scale of two-way investment. They emphasized the role and innovative nature of the Economic Cooperation Mixed Committee.
Building upon the China-Italy Action Plan (2014-2016), both sides confirmed their priority areas of cooperation:
(a) Environment and sustainable energy,
(b) Agriculture,
(c) Sustainable urbanization,
(d) Healthcare,
(e) Aviation,
(f) Space technology and applications,
(g) Infrastructure and transportation.
Both sides agreed to guide their respective competent authorities to actively work on implementing practical cooperation in the above-mentioned areas.
Both sides reaffirmed their strong opposition to any form of trade protectionism, reducing trade distortions of any kind, and deemed it necessary to provide equal and transparent opportunities for enterprises participating in project bidding.
Both sides hoped to strengthen cooperation in the fight against corruption to enhance the attractiveness of the business environment.
Both sides agreed to promote robust and balanced growth in bilateral trade in goods and services, supporting the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the Italian Trade Agency, and their representative institutions in effectively carrying out trade and investment promotion work. They supported the two countries' business associations in enhancing cooperation on commercial law, dispute resolution, intellectual property rights, legal consultancy, industry consultation, exchange seminars, and professional training to help companies resolve disputes, prevent risks, and properly address trade and economic friction.
China-Italy local economic and trade cooperation has a solid foundation and great potential. Both sides believed that it is necessary to strengthen local trade and investment cooperation based on the cooperation in Hai'an, Ningbo Ecological Park, and Zhenjiang Agricultural Demonstration and Innovation Park, further consolidating the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Italy.
Both sides believed that it is necessary to strengthen bilateral cooperation in customs, inspection and quarantine of animals and plants, and import and export food safety. They agreed to strengthen bilateral consultations on the basis of respecting each other's national laws and regulations and international standards to facilitate inspection and quarantine access procedures, promote market access, and facilitate overall trade.
Both sides attached importance to the protection of geographical indications, the fight against counterfeiting, and the protection of consumer rights. They hoped that the China-EU Geographical Indications Agreement negotiations would make positive progress, which would facilitate bilateral trade.
In the field of agriculture, both sides were willing to promote cooperation in agricultural machinery, agricultural product processing, food security, animal health, and other areas.
Both sides emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation in health and hygiene services, expressing their willingness to strengthen cooperation in pharmaceutical procurement, food safety risk assessment, traditional Chinese medicine, medical services, and more. They also emphasized the need to fully implement the "Action Plan for 2016-2018" signed by the health ministries of both countries on January 28, 2016, in Beijing, and the "Implementation Plan Implementation Plan" signed on February 22, 2017, in Beijing, through practical means to strengthen cooperation and exchange experiences in relevant areas. To this end, both sides would promote contacts and cooperation between research institutions, universities, and health institutions of the two countries.
Both sides expressed their willingness to strengthen cooperation in the field of e-commerce, emphasizing the need for appropriate attention to intellectual property protection. They believed that e-commerce is of great significance to the growth of bilateral trade and the cooperation between the two countries, especially small and medium-sized enterprises.
Both sides agreed to take measures to enhance the protection of intellectual property rights of economic entities in China and Italy and to strengthen the ability to combat counterfeit products online. They unanimously agreed that their respective competent authorities should enhance information exchange and cooperation within the framework of China-EU cooperation.
China-Italy Scientific and Technological Innovation Cooperation
Both sides emphasized the importance of technological innovation in industrial cooperation, appreciated the cooperation achievements in the field of scientific and technological innovation, and the ministers of science and technology of both countries held annual regular meetings through the "China-Italy Innovation Cooperation Week." The joint research projects in 2016, as outlined in the "Three-Year Implementation Plan for Science and Technology Cooperation (2016-2018)," were considered significant.
Both sides expressed their willingness to provide convenient conditions for students, experts, and researchers to travel between the two countries, promoting research cooperation in universities and research institutions.
Both sides reaffirmed their support for the annual "China-Italy Innovation Cooperation Week" and emphasized the significant achievements of the China-Italy Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition and the exhibition of excellent start-ups initiated during the "Innovation Week" held in October 2016, aiming to promote youth entrepreneurship exchanges.
Both sides actively supported cooperation in space technology, especially the implementation of the consensus reached between the Italian Space Agency and the China National Space Administration on cooperation in space science and exploration, research and application of Earth observation science, satellite and personnel training. The China Manned Space Engineering Office and the Italian Space Agency were willing to implement the agreements reached regarding cooperation and exchanges on China's space station. Both sides would continue to support future cooperation projects in space science, particularly in the exploration of the solar system, space geodesy, and research on Earth's physical fields, including the electromagnetic field, ionosphere, and magnetosphere. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the achievements of the Italian "LIMADOU" program and the cooperation project on China's first electromagnetic monitoring and testing satellite, which is scheduled to be launched in 2017. Both sides were willing to explore the possibility of establishing one or more joint space science and technology laboratories to deepen cooperation in space.
Both sides supported Chinese and Italian companies in expanding space cooperation in a wider range of fields, especially in areas such as Earth observation, geophysical information technology, satellite communication, and related space transportation and exploration.
Both sides were committed to developing practical cooperation projects, encouraging Italian companies and investors to participate in sustainable urbanization construction in China in appropriate places. Both sides supported exchanges between local administrative departments of the two countries, recognizing that Italy's central small town model had reference value for China's urbanization process.
To achieve the above goals and look to the future, both sides appreciated the signing of the "China-Italy Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Strategic Plan Towards 2020," and were willing to take measures to implement the consensus and strengthen cooperation in relevant areas. Cooperation in innovation covers various aspects, from basic research to high-tech transfer, based on China's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) and Italy's National Research Plan (2015-2020), providing comprehensive opportunities for cooperation in innovation between the two countries.
Italy's "Industry 4.0" and "Made in China 2025"
Both sides were willing to explore the interaction between "Made in China 2025," the "Internet+" strategy, and Italy's "Industry 4.0" plan to enhance international industrial competitiveness, increase research, development, and application of high-tech, and expand the role of information technology in industries and public services.
Both sides emphasized the foundational role of industrial cooperation and mutual investment in promoting economic growth and employment in both countries. They decided to continue to strengthen cooperation in priority areas, including aviation and aerospace, engine technology, smart urban traffic management systems, railway transportation systems, cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises, intellectual property laws and regulations, industrial energy efficiency and emission reduction, industrial design, technology, and certification standardization.
Addressing Climate Change and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda
Both China and the EU have ratified the Paris Agreement on climate change, and both are committed to finding the best ways to achieve their nationally determined contributions and sustainable development goals and to taking practical actions to address climate change. Both sides were willing to strengthen cooperation under the bilateral agreements reached between the Italian Ministry of the Environment and relevant Chinese ministries, injecting new momentum into the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Italy.
Both sides were willing to cooperate comprehensively in areas related to the 2030 sustainable development agenda, in line with the established goals.
Investment and Financial Cooperation
Both sides unanimously believed that it is necessary to expand bilateral investment and hoped that the China-EU Investment Agreement negotiations would make positive progress as soon as possible, reaching a comprehensive and ambitious agreement.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress made in joint investments in third-party markets.
Both sides were willing to fully explore the potential for financial and investment cooperation, encouraging various forms of cooperation in public infrastructure renovation projects, new industrial layouts, technology park construction, trade, services, cultural heritage preservation, and development.
Both sides encouraged and supported cooperation between the Italian Cassa Depositi e Prestiti and Chinese investment institutions, believing that these long-term investment institutions have made important contributions to the economic growth of both countries. Both sides were also willing to explore the possibility of using specialized financial tools such as private equity funds, which would support bilateral investments.
Both sides were willing to implement the results of the Fourth Meeting of the China-Italy Entrepreneur Committee.
Both sides unanimously believed that it is important to carry out bilateral economic cooperation in third countries. In addition to using existing financial tools, both sides should assess the possibility of creating new tools.
Both sides were willing to support credit, investment institutions, and personnel in conducting exchanges and cooperation. On the premise of respecting the relevant laws and regulatory requirements of both countries, they supported the establishment of new banks and financial institutions and branches of banks and financial institutions in each other's countries and strengthened information exchange and cooperation within the framework of China-EU cooperation.
Both sides unanimously agreed to strengthen cooperation between their respective export credit agencies on an equal basis, promote bilateral trade, and support the central banks and financial regulatory authorities of both countries in conducting multilateral and bilateral cooperation.
Interaction between China's "Belt and Road" Initiative and Italy's Logistics Infrastructure Construction
Both sides attached importance to the interaction between China's "Belt and Road" initiative and Italy's transportation infrastructure system, and were willing to coordinate this with the trans-European transportation network. In particular, ports in northern Italy's Adriatic Sea, such as Trieste and Venice, and ports in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea, such as Genoa and Savona, have advantages in infrastructure, logistics, and throughput capacity, providing broad prospects for cooperation.
Both sides believed that as members of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), China and Italy should play a facilitating role in bilateral infrastructure construction cooperation and China-EU connectivity in a sustainable manner.
Infrastructure and Transportation Cooperation
Both sides expressed satisfaction with bilateral cooperation in the aviation field and hoped to increase flights between China and Italy based on the wishes of Chinese and Italian aviation companies and passenger demand.
Both sides agreed to increase flights and freight frequencies between China and Italy, in addition to the existing agreements, in the short term on the basis of reciprocity, in order to meet the requirements of growing business travel and tourism. Both sides would initiate negotiations on a new memorandum of understanding as soon as possible.
In addition, both sides expressed their desire to promote cooperation in various forms in the field of transportation and logistics, including cooperation projects that are mutually beneficial, especially in the field of railways, including third-party cooperation.
Culture and Creative Industries
Both sides believed that cooperation in the field of culture and creative industries has broad prospects and is willing to further enhance cooperation through the China-Italy Cultural Cooperation Mechanism.
Both sides emphasized the importance of cooperation projects in the protection and development of historical and artistic heritage, including the promotion of contemporary visual arts (art, architecture, and design) and cooperation in contemporary art creation.
Both sides stated that they would promote and support cooperation between Chinese and Italian film and media, actively participate in media and film week events hosted by the other party, and support the "Italian Museums" touring exhibition plan in China using long-term exhibition halls in Chinese cities.
Both sides supported the pairing cooperation of World Heritage sites listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List of both countries, in order to promote cultural heritage protection, rural tourism, and sustainable tourism development.
Education Cooperation
Both sides reiterated their commitment to strengthening the teaching and promotion of the Chinese and Italian languages in each other's countries, in accordance with the principles of reciprocity and compliance with their respective laws and regulations. Both sides supported the expansion of Chinese and Italian language teaching through the opening of language courses, promotion of student exchanges, and inter-school cooperation.
Closer Contacts between China and Italy
Both sides agreed to strengthen tourism cooperation, share their respective promotional strategies, conduct expert exchanges in the field of tourism, participate in each other's tourism exhibitions, and enhance cooperation within the framework of the World Tourism Organization.
In 2018, the "China-EU Tourism Year" will be held, providing an opportunity for China and Italy to formulate a cultural tourism cooperation strategy along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
In terms of tourist exchanges, both sides emphasized the need to further expand two-way tourist exchanges, which are of great significance for promoting economic growth, strengthening people's mutual understanding, and preserving traditional friendship.
Both sides will work to provide entry and residence convenience for investors in manufacturing, real estate, art, culture, and other fields, and investment activities of investors from both sides in each other's territory should comply with relevant laws and regulations of their respective countries.
Both sides reaffirmed that, in view of the importance of the tourism industry, they would continue to work towards visa facilitation measures within their respective legal frameworks.
Both sides designated the China-Italy Government Committee, jointly chaired by the foreign ministers of the two countries, to coordinate the work of relevant government departments and public institutions in implementing this action plan.
Both prime ministers were willing to maintain close contacts, conduct annual communication in a flexible manner, engage in political consultations, and review the implementation of this action plan.
Source: Official Website of the "Belt and Road" International Cooperation Summit Forum
Original link: http://t.cn/RaeDjLg
